Richmond Gaol
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| Location | Richmond, Tasmania |
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| Coordinates | 42°44′11″S 147°26′20″E / 42.7364°S 147.4389°ECoordinates: 42°44′11″S 147°26′20″E / 42.7364°S 147.4389°E |
| Status | Historic Site |
| Security class | Maximum Security |
| Opened | 1825 |
| Closed | 1945 |
| Managed by | Tasmanian National Parks and Wildlife Service |
The Richmond Gaol is a convict era building and tourist attraction in Richmond, Tasmania, and is the oldest intact gaol in Australia. Building of the gaol commenced in 1825, and predates the establishment of the penal colony at Port Arthur in 1833. One of the tasks completed by the convicts who were held at Richmond Gaol was the construction of Richmond Bridge.
Most of the gaol buildings have not been changed since convict times. They include an example of a female solitary confinement cell, measuring 2 metres (6.6 ft)s by 1 metre (3.3 ft)
The buildings include a chain gang sleeping rooms, a flogging yard, a cook house and holding rooms. The buildings also feature historical relics and documents.
Settlers of Hobart Town were moving away in order to search for more farming land. The area of Sorell was quite established and it was being extended into the area soon to be known as Richmond. In the meantime, convicts were used as virtual slave labour to create all kinds of infrastructure like roads, bridges and public buildings.
Finally the township of Richmond was proclaimed in 1824.
A court house to service the police district in the area was built in 1825 and this was the start of the gaol building.
By the 1830s the gaol was horribly overcrowded because of it being so small - 19 square metres - and prisoners were forced to sleep in the passageways.
The two storey building began construction in 1832 and completed in 1833. The upper level served as the Gaoler's Residence with the downstairs section being storage.
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